From a seminar on Eritrea in the Norwegian Parliament in Nov 2013: Still relevant

From a seminar on Eritrea in the Norwegian Parliament in Nov 2013

Posted at FB on26.11.2013
The Norwegian Labour Party’s (the biggest Party in Norway) International Forum held a seminar in the Norwegian Parliament on the current situation in Eritrea on 19th November. Marit Nybakk, First Vice president of the Norwegian Parliament and member of the Defense and Foreign Relations Committee led the Seminar. She has been actively involved in the support of Eritrea’s liberation for a long time. She mentioned the current situation In Eritrea and the stream of refugees coming out and also highlighted the plight of Eritrean refugees from the sixties who still live in refugee camps in Sudan. State Secretary in the Foreign Relations Ministry, Hans Brattskar stated that the new Government is formulating its policy regarding Eritrea. Prof. Kjetil Trovoll, Norwegian Expert in Eritrea and the Africa’s Horn mentioned 5 challenges facing each of the Eritrean Diaspora, the regime and the international community on Eritrea.

Regarding the Eritrean Diaspora he mentioned the following challenges:

- So far they have not been able to deliver a viable alternative to the regime. There has been much infighting among them. Efforts such as the ENCDC have not been able to deliver so far. This he said may be seen as failing the Eritrean people

- There is a growing fragmentation among them which casts doubts on how they may contribute in running the post Isaias period. He stated that there is not only the highland/lowland divide but the there is also a growing fragmentation among the highlanders, too

- He indicated that there is a growing religious divide between Muslims and Christians. They seem to have different visions for the country. He stated that the regime described the 21 January Forto uprising as done by Muslims. He also mentioned that there is a dangerous tendency emerging from some activists that indicate most of the those trafficked are Christians and the traffickers are Muslims. He stated such statements can have dangerous consequences

- There is an increasing fear/worry among the lowlanders that the old EPLF officials are regrouping and that the political opposition will be kidnapped by them.

- So far there is no common political platform that cuts across ethnic, religious and regional divide were all relevant issues could be discussed and solutions formulated.

As far as the regime is concerned he highlighted 5 challenges that can be summarized as follows;

- There is a growing unrest among the top military officials, they are divided and Isaias does not have full control over them

- A growing dramatic humanitarian situation and a serious malnutrition among children 1 – 5 years

- The country has become one of the biggest refugee producing countries, known groups such as football teams, known artists and high level individuals leaving the regime in addition to the exodus of the youth which may result in the collapse of the country

- A growing criticism against the regime from loyal PFDJ members and growing civil society activism. He mentioned the ‘Freedom Friday’ initiative as effective

- He mentioned the Lampadusa effect where people are starting to break the barrier of fear
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This part is from a seminar held in 2010 where I participated as a speaker and the topic was: The Horn of Africa a web of conflicts: 

28.10.2010

Afrikas Horn – en vev av konflikter Link: http://www.internasjonaltforum.no/dok/artikkel645.asp